A crane operator who died in January, while working on the Canada Line rapid transit construction site near Richmond, B.C. was insufficiently trained, according to a  preliminary inspection report by WorkSafe BC.

Andy Slobodian was killed instantly when the crane he was operating tipped over onto the deck of the North Arm Bridge, between Vancouver and Richmond.

According to an inspection report by WorkSafe BC, (formerly known as the Workers' Compensation Board of B.C.) the operator was not sufficiently trained or experienced in crane operations to be placed in an operator's position on this bridge.

The report also said that the requirements to estimate load weights and lifting radius, and the additional hazards and considerations involved in lowering blind loads over the side of a suspended guide-way were beyond his skill level.

Slobodian, who was 22 when he died, was an employee of the RSL Joint Venture, a partnership involving Italian firm Rozzani de Eccher and SNC Lavalin.

RSL launched its own investigation into the causes of what has been described as a tragic accident.

It will now apply to WorkSafe BC for a complete version of the inspection report that was released on Wednesday.

The joint venture hopes to ensure that there is no repeat of the accident, said Steve Crombie, a spokesman for InTransit BC, a company that is managing the Canada Line construction project. "This is a learning experience for everyone involved,'' he said.

The president of InTransitBC/>/> said safety measures and supervision requirements were improved following the accident.

"Our objective is to have a safe work environment throughout the project,'' Jean-Marc Arbaud said in a statement. "This was a horrible tragedy for the Slobodian family, Andy's co-workers and everyone involved in the Canada/>/> Line project.''

"Our objective is to have a safe work environment throughout the project,'' Jean-Marc Arbaud said in a statement. "This was a horrible tragedy for the Slobodian family, Andy's co-workers and everyone involved in the Canada/>/> Line project.''

"Our objective is to have a safe work environment throughout the project,'' Jean-Marc Arbaud said in a statement. "This was a horrible tragedy for the Slobodian family, Andy's co-workers and everyone involved in the Canada/>/> Line project.''

With a report by The Canadian Press